Just 4 Months to a New-Look NAI 7s

03.20.2025Elite 7s

Four months…yes just 4 months from the 15th Anniversary of the largest sevens rugby festival in the Americas. Along with a couple tournament firsts being announced.

As the weather starts to turn and the days begin getting a little longer in the Salt Lake valley, teams are getting geared up and excited for an annual event that brings people together from all corners of the country.

While rugby is in the thick of the Spring season and focused currently on the 15’s game, with teams fine tuning their plays, their combinations and tactics, administrators and coaches have in the back of their minds the excitement of the last weekend in July.

With the thrill of traveling in from the sunny coastline along the Pacific ocean, leaving behind the sandy beaches, and working their way up to the high desert plains of Utah, and entering into the Salt Lake Valley, the sight of the Great Salt Lake hit them, reality strikes! So too is the feeling for teams and fans coming in from the east. Crossing over the highest heights of the Rocky Mountains, some still showing the effects of winter with some snow still evident, cresting the peaks of the Wasatch front range and taking a sharp dip down into the valley, again reality hits, it becomes real. They are here to compete against the best of the best in the Americas, here in Utah. Teams from the east, west, north and south, along with some of the best right here in Utah, converge together to compete.

But what is the thrill of this version of the game of rugby? Imagine a full sized rugby field that normally has 30 players on it…..now keep the same sized field, but shrink the player count from 15 a side, down to 7. And compact the time from 40 minute halves to just 7 minutes a half. It’s an all out sprint! Fitness, Endurance, Energy all at their peak, running at 100%, then add the summer rays of sun, and a bite of altitude to the mix and its the thrills of players giving their all, fans gasping in shock and excitement as breakaway tries are scored and champions formed.

For more information visit nai7s.com

gallery photos nai 7s 2024 wade bricknell 12

This year will be taking all that excited from years past and adding a little more!

Who knew, back in 2011 with literally a handful of teams, a mere 12 teams came together to play a game they love, that it has grown and evolved over the years to the Americas’ largest sevens rugby festival, year after year.

2025 will be equally grand. 164 teams, you read that right. This year, 164 teams will converge on Salt Lake City at the Regional Athletic Complex, to battle it out on the fields, while forging lasting friendships off the field, all in the bid to be crowned NAI Champions. Creating a legacy for their team to return to defend that title.

This year, all our defending champions from 2024 are coming back in a bid to retain their title, up against the best of the best. Will they be successful, or will a new victor be crowned and claim the bragging rights?

The action doesn’t stop, 164 teams, at least 8 fields, constant action on the go from 9am in the morning through to 6pm at night. Over 100 hours of combined rugby in just two days.

Fans can sit at almost any field and have a full day of exciting rugby to watch, seeing multiple teams, it’s like being in front of your TV and not having to change the channel or move because the excitement never stops, but don’t stress, there are bathrooms near by if you need a break and with nine different food trucks, the sampling of deliciousness is always fresh.

Along with the excitement of the game, players and fans get to remember the festival with the opportunity to purchase some fun gear to take home with them, from t-shirts to even hoodies to relax in and reminisce in the cooler months and more. NAI 7’s is an experience to behold and participate in, either as a player or a spectator. Big hits, runaway tries and nail biting finishes, the action is always on the go.

2025 is a year not only celebrating the 15th anniversary of the event, but it comes with some firsts.

164 teams split into the following age groups:
Boys U14, U16 (Tier 1 & Tier 2), U18 (Elite & Open) and Men’s Open

Girls U14, U16, U18 (Elite & Open) and Women’s Open

Yes, you read that right, this year brings the start of the men’s and women’s open divisions.

Along with all this excitement, college and university scouts and coaches will be present to eye out who they may want to invite into their programs, along with the likes of the Utah Warriors being there as festival participants. And in another first, USA Rugby has announced that NAI 7’s is an official player identification pathway for the USA U18 Team.

Players get to show their abilities and talent, scouts get to see the next generation and fans get to enjoy the thrills of it all watching the greatest hard hitting no pads sport in the world.

Will you be there? Will you be participating for the glory or cheering on as a fan? It’s worth it, be there.

For more information visit nai7s.com

—By Wade Bricknell for NAI7’s
Photos: WadeB Photos
wade@wadebricknell.com
info@nai7s.com